Frame structure for furniture and the like



Aug. 22, 1961 J. J. WETZLER FRAME STRUCTURE FOR FURNITURE AND THE LIKEFiled June 21, 1954 2,997,141 FRAME STRUCTURE FOR FURNITURE AND THE LIKEJustin J. Wetzler, Evanston, Ill., assignor to The Englander Company,Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 21, 1954,'Ser. No. 438,257 Claims. (Cl. 189-34) The present invention relates toa novel frame structure and more particularly, to a novel frame memberor structure for use in furniture such as chairs, divans, box springunits, and vehicle seats. This application is a continuation in part ofmy co-pending application, Serial No. 419,736 filed March 30, 1954, nowPatent No. 2,841,209, issued July 1, 1958.

As set forth in my above mentioned co-pending application, wood hasheretofore generally been used for making various frame structures to beused in furniture. However, wood has a number of disadvantages when usedfor such frame structures and in accordance with the invention disclosedand claimed in my above mentioned copending application, metal framemembers have been provided which overcome the disadvantages of woodenframe members. The present invention contemplates the provision ofimproved metal frame members for use in making various frame structuresfor furniture. An important object of the present invention is toprovide a novel multi-piece metal frame member or unit which hasimproved strength and rigidity while still being relatively light inweight.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novelmulti-piece metal frame member or unit of the above described type whichmay be relatively easily and economically manufactured.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide. a novelmulti-piece metal frame member or unit of the above described type whichhas substantially smooth and unbroken external surfaces in order toprovide a pleasing appearance.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description and the accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a frame member embodying theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a frame member embodying amodified form of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of a curved corner portion of a framein which the frame member of FIG. 2 is utilized;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing another form of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing still another modifiedform of the present invention.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings wherein like parts aredesignated by the same numerals throughout the various figures, a framemember or unit is shown in FIG. 1. The unit 10 includes an elongatedsheet metal channel member 12 having a generally flat web portion 14 andlaterally extending flanges 16 and 18 integral with the web portion. Asecond elongated sheet metal member 20 includes a web portion 22disposed between the flanges 16 and 18 and abutting the web portion 14.The juxtaposed web portions 14 and 22 are preferably secured together bymeans of a plurality of spaced welds 24 and 26. A longitudinallyextending midportion of the web 22 is formed to provide a channelsection having laterally extending portions or flanges 28 and 30 joinedby a bottom section 32.

From the above description, it is seen that the frame Sttes Patenticemember or unit 10 is provided by relatively simple and economicalelongated sheet metal members which may be easily. welded together.Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the particular cross sectionalshape of the unit as a Whole provides the unit with great strength andrigidity. Furthermore, this cross sectional shape enables brackets to beeasily connected with the frame member merely by forcing prongs of thebrackets through slits provided in the flanges 18, 28 and 30 and for acomplete disclosure of such brackets and the manner in which they areconnected with the frame member, reference is made to the abovementioned co-pending application. It should also be noted that thegenerally smooth flat web 14 of the elongated sheet metal member 12covers the channel section of the member 20, and since the frame unit 10will normally be arranged in a frame structure with the elongated member12 facing outwardly, the outer surface of the frame member or unit willbe smooth and will present a pleasing appearance.

FIGS. 2 and 3 disclose a slightly modified form of the present inventionwhich is similar to the frame member or unit 10 as indicated by theapplication of identical reference numerals with the suflix a added tocorresponding elements. This embodiment difliers in that the flanges 16aand 18a are made integral with the web portion 22a rather than the webportion 14a. One advantage of this embodiment is that the elongatedmember. 12a is provided by the flat web portion 14a whereby only theelongated member 20a need be formed into a special shape so that theframe member or unit as a whole may be more economically manufactured.Another advantage is that the frame member 10a may be bent to provide acurved frame corner portion as shown in FIG. 3, and since the member 12adoes not have any flanges, it may be easily bent without wrinkling sothat the corner portion of the frame will have a smooth, neat appearingexternal surface.

FIG. 4 shows another modified form of the present invention which issimilar to the structure shown in FIG.

1 as indicated by the application of identical reference.

numerals with the sufiix b added to the corresponding elements. Thisembodiment differs in that the channel section in the member 20b hasbeen reversely formed with respect to the channel section shown in FIG.1 so that the bottom 32b of the channel section abuts the web portion14b. The web portion 14b and the juxtaposed bottom 321) are securedtogether by means of a plurality of spaced welds 34. In addition, thesheet metal member 2% is provided with flanges 36 and 38 extendinglaterally from opposite margins of the web portion 22b and respectivelyabutting the flanges 16b and 18b of the member 12b. The flanges 16b and36 are secured together by a plurality of spaced welds 40 and theflanges 18b and 38 are similarly secured together by welds 42. Whilethis structure isslightly more complicated than the above describedembodiments of this invention, it has the advantage of providing greaterstrength and rigidity in the frame member as a whole and especially inthe laterally extending flange portions of the frame member withoutsubstantially increasing the weight or cost of the 7 frame member. 7 7

FIG. 5 shows still another modified form of the present invention whichembodies the structure of FIG. 4 as shown by the application ofidentical reference numerals with the suifix c added to correspondingelements. In addition, the structure of FIG. 5 includes a thirdelongated steel meta-l member 44 which greatly increases the strengthand rigidity of the structure without unduly increasing either theweight or the cost of the structure. The member 44 includes a webportion 46 similar to the web portion 22c of the member 12c. Thus, theweb portion 46 has a longitudinally extending intermediate channelsection including laterally extending portions or flanges 48 and 50joined by a bottom section 52. It should be noted that the channelsections in the webs 22c and 46 are formed oppositely from each other sothat they provide the frame member unit 100 with a portion having ahollow box-like cross section. This provides the frame member with greatstrength and rigidity. The member 44 also includes flanges 54 and 56extending from opposite margins of the web portions 46 and abutting theinner surfaces of the flanges 36c and 380, respectively. The welds 401:are formed so that all of the flanges 16c, 36c and 54 are securedtogether and the welds 420 are similarly formed to secure the flange 56to the flanges 18c and 380.

From the above description, it is seen that the present invention hasprovided an improved metal frame member or unit comprising a pluralityof elongated sheet metal members which may be readily and economicallyfabricated and assembled together. In addition, it is seen that thepresent invention has provided a novel multipiece frame member or unitwhich has improved strength and rigidity and which has smooth externalsurfaces so as to present a pleasing appearance.

While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shownand described herein, it is obvious that many structural details may bechanged without departing from the spirit and scope of the appendedclaims.

The present invention is claimed as follows:

1. In a spring structure for a piece of furniture and the like amulti-part relatively light weight rigid frame member comprising aplurality of elongated sheet metal members secured together as a unit,said unit including an elongated channel member having a generally flatweb portion and flanges extending laterally from opposite longitudinaledges of the web portion, second and third elongated members eachincluding a web portion extending between said flanges, and juxtaposedflange portions extending from opposite longitudinal margins of saidlast mentioned web portions and spot welded at longitudinally spacedareas to each other and to said first mentioned flanges and said webportions of said second and third elongated members includinglongitudinally extending opposed channel sections providing said unitwith an elongated hollow box-like section, said channel section of saidsecond member abutting and being spot welded at spaced areas to the webportion of said first mentioned member.

2. In a supporting frame for supporting a spring struc ture insubstantially horizontal position in an article of furniture and thelike, the provision of a multi-part relatively light weight rigid framemember comprising inner and outer elongated sheet metal members eachincluding a vertically disposed web portion and adapted to be securedtogether as a unit and to be disposed horizontally in supportingposition with the weight of the spring structure exerted downwardly inthe direction of the vertical disposition of said web portions, the webportion of the outer member having inturned substantially horizontalflanges integral with the opposite longitudinal margins thereof andbeing substantially planar throughout its extent between said flangesand with the inner elongated member nested therein to present agenerally inwardly open U-shaped assembly, the web portion of the innermember having at least a portion thereof abutting the inner surface ofthe outer web portion and hav- 4 ing a longitudinally extending channelsection intermediate the opposite longitudinal margins thereof, saidinner member including vertical flanges extending in opposite directionsfrom the channel section thereof and abutting the inturned flanges ofsaid outer member, and means for securing the inner and outer memberstogether as a unit and including welding connections between theabutting surfaces of the web portions of said inner and outer members. i

3. In a supporting frame as claimed in claim 2, wherein the channelsection opens outwardly and is closed by the web portion of the outermember, and wherein the vertical flanges on the inner member abut theadjacent surfaces of the web portion of the outer member and are weldedthereto.

4. In a supporting frame as claimed in claim 2, wherein the outersurface of the channel section abuts the adjacent surface of the webportion of the outer member and is welded thereto, and wherein thevertical flanges on the inner member are spaced inwardly from theadjacent surfaces of the outer web portion with the ends of saidvertical flanges terminating in horizontal flanges abutting the innersurfaces of the inturned flanges of the outer member and additionallywelded thereto.

5. In a supporting frame for supporting a spring structure insubstantially horizontal position in an article of furniture and thelike, the provision of a multi-part relatively light weight rigid framemember comprising inner and outer elongated sheet metal members eachincluding a vertically disposed web portion and adapted to be securedtogether as a unit and to be disposed horizontally in supportingposition with the weight of the spring structure exerted downwardly inthe direction of the vertical disposition of said web portions, the webportion of the outer member having inturned flanges extendingsubstantially horizontally from opposite longitudinal margins thereofand being substantially planar throughout its extent between saidflanges and with the inner elongated member nested therein to present agenerally inwardly open U-shaped assembly, the web portion of said innermember having the upper and lower edge portions thereof terminating atthe flanges of said outer member and disposed in face-to-face abuttingcontact with the web portion of the outer member and including anintermediate longitudinally extending channel section facing outwardlyand closed by the web portion of the outer member and with the innersurface thereof disposed within the free marginal extremities of theflanges of said outer member, and means securing together the inner andouter members and including welded connections between the abuttingsurfaces of the web portions of said inner and outer members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS308,828 Butz Dec. 2, 1884 1,805,019 Smiley May 12, 1931 2,175,688 FerrisOct. 10, 1939 2,320,001 Lundvall May 25, 1943 2,333,511 Bates et al.Nov. 2, 1943 2,356,309 Garbe Aug. 22, 1944 2,534,502 Dewey Dec. 19, 19502,595,665 Hurd May 6, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 985,550 France Mar. 14, 1951

